How to Braid Onions for Medium Term Storage

How to Braid Onions for Medium Term Storage

Braiding onions is a fantastic way to keep them fresh for longer periods of time when compared to letting them rest in their sacks.  This method helps to promote air flow through the onions and prevent the accumulation of moisture that can lead to rotting as well as sprouting.  Let’s take a look at the process, and see how easy it is to take advantage of this method in order to extend the shelf-life of your onions.

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Preparing the Onions

The first step is to allow fresh onions to dry for a week or so before processing them.  You also want to use fresh onions that are still connected by their stems as opposed to the trimmed ones we find in supermarkets.  You need the stems intact for this method to work effectively.

One the onions have dried, cut off the stems at about 6 inches above the top of each of the onions.  You need this much room to anchor them in place on the braiding string, and the extra space will also help to promote good air flow through the bunches while the onions are in storage.  The cordage you use also needs to be able to hold the weight of the onion bushels that you are going to make, which can easily exceed 50lbs. 

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Braiding

Take a long piece of cordage and fold it in half so there is a loop at the bottom, and tie it off at the top.   Make sure that you are using enough cordage to accommodate the number of onions that you want to hang in a single bushel.  Take the stem of the first onion and feed it through the loop and pull it down.  Then, pull it around the right side of the string and feed the stem through the hole again.  Then, wrap it over the left side of the string and through the loop you created with the stem on the opposite side.  Give it a good tug, and the onion should be anchored in place.

Repeat the same process with the second onion, but make sure that it being attached directly opposite the first one.  You want the stems of each onion to face inward so the bulbs are anchored from left to right.  Keep repeating the process, alternating from left to right as the onions get stacked one atop the other.  You can make the bushel as long or as short as you like depending on your particular needs and space requirements. 

All you need to do now is hang the bushels by attaching the tied-end of the loop to a hook, nail or other anchor.  You want to make sure that the bushels are hanging without touching the ground or resting against anything.  Allowing them to hang freely will maximize air flow and contribute to an even level of drying throughout the bushels.

Let the bushels hang outside in a sunny and breezy location that is sheltered from rain.  Transfer the bushels into a root cellar or cool and dark storage area once temperatures start to drop in the fall and winter.  If braided properly and kept in the right environment, you can expect the onions to remain fresh for anywhere from 6 months to a year. 

However, it’s important to frequently check the quality and conditions of each of the onions.  If you come across one that is rotting or developing soft spots, remove it from the bushel as quickly as possible.  Leaving it attached can cause other onions to develop similar defects and taint the entire bushel over the course of time.  It’s also important to avoid peeling the onions as the skin protects them during storage.

When you’re ready to take some onions, simply cut them off of the braid and remove the stems.  Try this out for yourself, and discover how this simple technique can help you to preserve onions for longer periods of time when compared to leaving them in sacks on a shelf. 

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